Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Dichrostachys cinerea

In this present study, the analgesic activity of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Dichrostachy cinerea was investigated in mice using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate test, while the anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in rats using the carrageenan and dextran- induced paw edema. The extract (400, 800mg/kg) exhibited a dose dependent inhibition of abdominal writhing in mice compared to control. The effects of the extract were not significantly different from that of aspirin. The extract (800mg/kg) caused a significant (p<0.01) increase in pain threshold, at 60th minute post treatment in the hot plate test and the effects of the extract were lower than that of morphine (4mg/kg). The extract (800mg/kg) and indomethacin (10mg/kg) at 1 st hour and 2 nd - 4 th hour produced inhibitions of the carrageenan-induced paw oedema versus control. The results also showed that the extract (800mg/kg) produced inhibition of dextran- induced paw edema between 2 nd hour and 4 th hour compared to control. Overall, our data suggest that the extract possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which may be mediated solely by peripheral mechanisms.  Keywbords: Dichrostachys Cinerea ; analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hot plate, dextran, carragenan, edema, pain